Die Nibelungen: Siegfrieds Tod (1924) - Fritz Lang

Die Nibelungen: 1. Teil - Siegfrieds Tod
Siegfried's Death



Germany 1924
Director: Fritz Lang
Cast: Paul Richter, Hanna Ralph, Margarete Schön, Theodor Loos

02:22:14 | MKV | H.264 AVC 2672kbps | mp3 128kbps | 708x540 | 25.334fps | 2.79GB | Silent | English intertitles

In 1924, years before Metropolis and M, director Fritz Lang created a silent epic based on the quintessential German legend: Die Nibelungen, the ancient folk tale of heroism and revenge that also served as basis for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle of operas. Lang's tale is broken into two movies which together clock in at close to five hours. Conceived as a monumental spectacle at Berlin's Ufa studios, Die Nibelungen is the Lord of the Rings superproduction of its time; its images and larger than life emotions still have the power to astound. … By today's hectic standards, individual shots in Die Nibelungen could be tightened to make for a more streamlined movie. But there is no extraneous scene; every boiling emotion and outrageous plot twist still resonates over eighty years later...


Volker von Azley (Bernard Goetzke), a minstrel, sets down to tell the story of Siegfried, son of King Siegmund of the Nibelungen (Netherlands). Siegfried (Paul Richter) is apprenticed to Mime, a blacksmith, who helps him forge a special sword. Siegfried then sets off to the court of the Burgundian King Gunther (Theodor Loos), at Worms by the Rhine, seeking the hand of the beautiful young Princess Kriemhild (Margaret Shoen), sister to Gunther.

En route to Worms, Siegfried encounters and slays a dragon. He bathes in its blood in order to make his body impervious to swords and arrows. Unfortunately, a leaf lands on his upper back, stopping the dragon's blood reaching him there. This part of his body is therefore made vulnerable. Siegfried also encounters Alberich (Georg John), the dwarf Lord Treasurer to the Nibelungen dynasty. He captures the Nibelungen treasure and acquires a magic cloak which makes him invisible and provides him with the strength of many men.

Upon arrival at the castle of King Gunther, Siegfried is opposed by the warrior Hagan (Hands Adalbert von Schlettow), half-brother of Gunter. Hagan is jealous of the young and handsome Siegfried who seeks the hand of the beautiful Kriemhild. This maiden had previously vowed to marry no warrior. She subsequently foresees Siegfried's death in a dream during which a white dove is attacked by a pair of black hawks.

In order to obtain the hand of Kriemhild in marriage, Siegfried must assist Gunther in likewise obtaining the hand of Brunhild (Hanna Ralph), warrior queen of Iceland. Brunhild has pledged that she will only marry a warrior who can defeat her in a series of athletic games - these involve throwing a large spear, throwing a heavy rock, and leaping through the air. Upon arrival at Brunhild's castle, Siegfried assists Gunter in defeating Brunhild by donning the cloak of invisibility and utilising his special strength.

Upon the party's return to Worms, Brunhild weds Gunther, and Siegfried takes Kriemhild. However, during an encounter on the steps of Worms cathedral between the two women, Brunhild learns how Siegfried and Gunther had deceived her into giving up her kingdom. She calls on Siegfried to be killed in revenge. Gunther agrees and together with Hagan tricks Kriemhild into revealing Siegfried's vulnerable spot. Hagan then spears the young hero in the back and kills him. With the death of Siegfreid, Brunhild becomes remorseful and apparently commits suicide. Kriemhild seeks revenge on Gunter and Hagan.

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For links to parts 1 & 2, see new post:
http://www.foriegnmoviesddl.com/2010/06/die-nibelungen-1924-fritz-lang.html